Basescu criticized, without naming names, public figures that go on TV and say they are ashamed to be living in Romania and added Romania must reassert its real image by bringing forth its traditions and folklore.
Asked how foreign tourists can come and discover what the country has to offer since it does not offer them a practicable infrastructure, Basescu said this problem „is real, but it became a cliche” as travelling by plane accounts for 70% of tourism.
Basescu added he met with foreign tourists several times and they were extremely pleased with what they saw in Romania.
About the fact that highways were not built in Romania when he was transport minister, Basescu said Romania had no money to build highways back then and he chose to rehabilitate 14,000 kilometers of roads instead.